Knebworth House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Knebworth House |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Country house |
| Location | Knebworth Park, Stevenage |
| Coordinates | 51°46′18″N 0°12′02″W / 51.7718°N 0.2006°W |
| Construction started | 15th century |
| Owner | Baron Cobbold of Knebworth |
Knebworth House is a grand old house located in Hertfordshire, England. It's a very important historical building, recognized as a Grade II* listed building, which means it has special architectural or historical interest. The beautiful gardens around the house are also listed for their historical importance. Near the house, you can find the old St. Mary's Church and the Lytton family mausoleum. Knebworth House used to belong to the Earl of Lytton and is now home to the family of the Baron Cobbold of Knebworth.
The large grounds of Knebworth House are famous for hosting the Knebworth Festival. This is a big outdoor rock and pop concert that has been happening since 1974.
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History of Knebworth House
The Lytton family has lived at Knebworth House since 1490. It started as a red-brick manor house, built in a style called Late Gothic. It was originally shaped like an open square with a central courtyard. Over the years, the house changed a lot. Between 1813 and 1816, it was made smaller, keeping only the west wing. This part was then redesigned in a Tudor Gothic style. Later, from 1843 to 1845, it was transformed into the Tudor Gothic building you see today.
Famous Residents and Garden Designs
One of the most well-known people to live at Knebworth was Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803–1873). He was a famous Victorian author, a writer of plays, and a statesman. He added beautiful formal Italian-style gardens to the house.
Later, the house was leased for a time by Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia. The interior of Knebworth House was also redesigned by a famous architect named Sir Edwin Lutyens. He married Lady Emily Bulwer-Lytton, who was the daughter of the 1st Earl of Lytton. A special herb garden with a unique woven design was planned by Gertrude Jekyll in 1907, though it wasn't planted until 1982.
Knebworth Today
Today, Henry Lytton Cobbold, 3rd Baron Cobbold, lives at Knebworth House with his family. He has a background in the film industry. Because of this, he allows movie and TV companies to film scenes at the house and in its gardens. The grounds are also open to the public and have fun attractions like an adventure playground and a dinosaur park. They also host various events, including classic car shows.
Knebworth Music Festival
Since 1974, Knebworth House has been the home of the famous Knebworth Festival. This is a huge outdoor rock and pop concert. The very first festival in July 1974 featured bands like The Allman Brothers Band and The Doobie Brothers, playing to a crowd of 60,000 people.
Over the years, many legendary artists have performed at Knebworth. These include Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Queen (their 1986 concert was their last with Freddie Mercury), Paul McCartney, Genesis, Elton John, Dire Straits, Robbie Williams, Oasis, and Liam Gallagher. These concerts have made Knebworth a very important place in music history.
Knebworth in Films and Television
Knebworth House has been a popular filming location for many movies and TV shows. Its historic look makes it perfect for different settings.
Notable Productions Filmed at Knebworth
Some of the well-known productions that have used Knebworth House include:
- Anastasia (1956) – used as the palace of the Empress.
- Batman (1989) – used for the exterior and some interior scenes of Bruce Wayne's Wayne Manor.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) – used for promotional materials and the film's international launch.
- The Mummy Returns (2001) – featured for exterior shots of the O'Connell family home.
- The Queen (2006) – used for various scenes.
- The King's Speech (2010) – used for the Balmoral Party and other scenes.
- The Crown – interiors were used to represent Balmoral Castle.
- The Flash (2023) – featured as the exterior of Wayne Manor.
- The Gentlemen (2024) – appeared as 'Dorset Hall' in an episode.
Radio Broadcasting
Interestingly, a local radio station called BOB FM (now Heart Hertfordshire) used to broadcast from Knebworth's old pump house. This building once supplied water to the main house.
Images for kids
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Knebworth House
See also
In Spanish: Knebworth House para niños
